The countdown begins

I have started my countdown.....finals will be over next week and I can say good-bye to one of the longest semesters of my life.  Yes, school took up most of my time these past few months and I have really missed blogging and crafting.  I had two incredibly boring (although informative) classes, and I am ready to be finished with both of them.  Although that doesn't mean I'm ready for my finals.

I have a quick and easy and sugary recipe to share with you today.  And since I haven't blogged in forever, I think I'm going to be trying to fit 3 billion words on one post, so settle in!  LOL!  I had these tasty treats at my sister-in-law's 4 years ago.  They were SO good!  I'm guessing she gave me the recipe and I lost it somewhere and never made them.  Well, yesterday I was craving some sugary goodness and I called her to get the recipe.  Her baby is teething and was not too happy, screaming in the background.  I told her it wasn't a big deal and I could call when it was better for her, but she said to give her 30 seconds, she knew exactly what recipe I was talking about.  So she gave me some of the ingredients and I got ready to make these.  Here is the recipe (and the 3 billions words continue below):

Okay, so if I remember correctly, she actually called these "Welfare Cookies."  But, I can't come back after months of non-posting and give you a recipe with that title.  So I just made up my own name for them.  I got new digi supplies I was ready to use, and so I went with a Christmas-y theme.  So I made a batch and they really do go together quickly.  My husband got home and I thought, "well, he is either going to love these, or wonder why I wasted a cup of chocolate chips!"  It turns out he loved them.  And so did my son and my daughter.  They were in sugar heaven with me!  And then my brother called.  I asked him to please tell his wife thanks for the recipe and that we all loved it.  So he asked what I made and I said, "Those cookies you make with saltine crackers."  Silence on the other end of the phone.  "What are you talking about?"  So I started describing them to him.  He was laughing so hard.  Apparently, they are supposed to be made with graham crackers, not saltine crackers.  LOL!  I told my husband and he said not to change a thing because he loved them just the way they were.  So, I will stick with the plan.  And if you really want to know how else I changed things up, I'll let you know.  Apparently her recipe didn't call for chocolate chips, either, but it did call for coconut.  Well, I didn't have coconut, but did have chocolate chips.  So I used what I had.  Her recipe also called for 3/4 cup of both butter and brown sugar.  Well, I cut both of those back and thought it was still plenty gooey and yummy and sugary.  And since my husband loved it how it was, that is how the recipe got typed up.

And now, I am off to study more and more and more and more.  And then in about a week, I hope to be back on here, and especially catching up with all your lovely blogs I have missed out on for all these months!

Going for a bike ride

Well, I hope you've all had a wonderful week!  It's starting to feel like fall here.  When the kiddos have been getting on the bus in the morning it's been 55 degrees....perfect weather for running!  Saturday was too cold, though.  My son's football team had an 8 a.m. game, which meant 7 a.m. practice.  It was 36 degrees!!!  Hot chocolate weather, only I didn't pack any hot chocolate.  Anyway, on to my page.  This is from the day my kiddos finally mastered the art of bike riding.  Yes, I kind of feel like a bad mom admitting that I had a 9 and 6 year old that didn't know how to ride their bikes.  But, they didn't, that's life, and now they do.  So it's all good!  And they are super happy!!!  I finally FINALLY used an element on this page that I've been meaning to for ages.  Bingo cards seem to be making the rounds in the crafting world, and I've seen them on lots of cards and every time I do, it reminds me that I have these digi ones I've been waiting and waiting to use.  Well, this project just called out to me to finally use one.  And I'm so glad I did, I love the fun look it adds to the page. 
Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals, Basic Grey

Surprise!

I'm back!  Wow, I feel like I've been gone a loooong time!  I guess I ended up taking almost the entire summer off from blogging.  I hadn't planned things that way, but that's how it worked out.  At the start of the summer, I did have 2 goals.  1) To spend as much time with my little munchkins as possible before both of them were in school full time.  2) To try to get a good fitness routine going.  To be honest, I am perfectly happy spending hours and hours on my computer: scrapping, blog-hopping, just surfing around.   But that also seems to keep me spending hours and hours sitting on my butt, and too tired at the end of the day to exercise.  So, anyway.  I got moving, and spent lots of time with the munchkins.  And it was great!!!  But, I did miss my time blogging and blog-hopping.  Now that these two:

are back in school, I'm planning (hoping) to get back in the swing of  blogging.  It might not ever be as regular as it was in the past, but I don't think I'll be missing 2 months.  ha!  No promises, though.  I'm taking day classes at BYU for the first time in 10 years, and I'll admit I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.  The past few years of classes, I've taken night classes.  Campus is always less busy at night, and there isn't quite so much going on to overstimulate my poor brain.  Anyway. 

I have worked on some projects over the summer.  Not a ton, but I'll be sharing them over the next little while.  And you have to know that I'm itching to work with paper and glue again, too!  What a perfect time for Leigh Ann to have several new releases of her Perfect Presentation templates: a Tall Gable Box and a Mini Cake Stand.  Now, I've seen these templates and they are fabulous.  I haven't worked with them yet, but I've got a long weekend ahead of me, so I'm hoping like crazy to fit some crafting time in. 

Digital Basic Grey

Well, by now you all probably know I love doing my scrapbooking digitally.  Well, Basic Grey now has digital papers, making life for a digiscrapper even funner!  This layout today came about because of two different challenges.  One, this sketch posted on the Inspired Crafters blog.  Chris was in charge of our April challenges, and while I fully intended to participate in each one, April went by too fast!  LOL!  The second challenge it is for is an "All About Me" challenge from Designer Digitals.  The All About Me challenges are issued every other week.  You can follow that challenge, and the idea is that at the end of the year you'll have some fun layouts about yourself.  I love it.  I know as a scrapper I'm always documenting my kids and their activities.  This is a fun way to leave behind something about me, too!  The current challenge is about your best friend.

My husband is definitely my best friend.  I'm so lucky to have him.  I found this old picture and it brought back so many memories, I had to use it for my best friend layout!  That's all for today.


Digital Supplies:
Basic Grey
Designer Digitals

Mr. V

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Well, I found myself in need of a sympathy card this week.  I was really sad to see my friend notifying people that her father-in-law had passed away.  I grew up in a tiny little town, and her father-in-law was a teacher there in the middle school.  I was super shy when I was younger, and I was petrified to have him for a teacher.  He was known to be pretty strict, a no-nonsense kind of guy.  He taught art and science.  Kind of a funny mix, now that I think about it.  Anyway, he ended up being one of my favorite teachers.  He really wanted his students to excel.  I believe he'd have been happy to have every student learn more about every subject than he himself knew.  He loved kids to explore and learn everything that they could.  And I loved that about his classes.  My friend posted how hard it was going to be to tell her kiddos when they woke up that grandpa wasn't going to be around anymore.  Well, I was really sad and didn't feel like making a card at all.  My blogging friend Chris had made a beautiful card for her friend, and I just decided to take the easy route and case her gorgeous card.  Enjoy your Friday, go hug all your loved ones!

Day at the Zoo

Good morning!!!  We're adjusting to our summer schedule.  The alarm has been off for two weeks now (minus the day my son had a scout hike), the smell of sunscreen is a constant, and hot dogs are once again a main food group.  I've been doing some crafting here and there, but mainly just enjoying summer at home with my kiddos.  Today I do have a scrapbook page to share.  I finished it a while back, but I'm pretty sure I never posted it here.

When my son was little, he was so scared of this gorilla at the zoo.  We didn't go a lot, but every time that we did, we'd try to get him to sit on the gorilla's lap and he never would.  Finally this day he did.  I thought it made the cutest little picture!

Enjoy your summer days, and I don't think I'll be going two weeks without posting again ;)

All Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals

It's Official

Well, it's official!  My daughter had her kindergarten assessment this morning, but it's over with and we are home.  So now I can say her summer has officially started.  Now if the weatherman would get the memo, and quit sending us rain, and even little patches of snow, I'd be a lot happier!  Today's project is what we made to give to her ballet teacher on her last day of dance class last week.

I always consider it a successful project if I get to combine pink, kraft, and a favorite template of mine!  I have to show the inside, too.  We piled some mini chocolate candy bars in, and added an iTunes gift card (not pictured, we picked it up on the way to ballet!).  I love the size of this carton.  I think it's perfect for getting just the right amount of chocolate in there!

Perfect Presentation Template: Cute Carton

Stamps: PTI Background Basics: Text Style

Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate

CS: PTI Rustic Cream, Kraft
DP: Unknown, but I love it ;)
Accessories: PTI Sweet Blush Saddle Stitched Ribbon

The case of the missing reinkers

There are times it does not pay to overthink.  Most times it does not pay to overthink.  I had the perfect little spot for the only two reinkers I own.  Dark Chocolate and Ripe Avocado.  They were tucked in a little box in my ribbon drawer.  And everything was fine.  But the overthinking side of me said, "What if they tip over and leak out and get all over my ribbon?"  So I moved them.  And I don't know where they are now.  I can't find them anywhere.  Which wouldn't matter at all, except that it's the last week of kindergarten, and I need my dark chocolate reinker.  Here is the card I need it for:

This is the card I made for the teacher's aide in my daughter's class.  She is awesome!  She works at the kindergarten in the morning, and then goes to school in the afternoons/evenings.  She is hoping to become a teacher.  She is so great with the kids and would make an awesome teacher.  So I really hope she pursues her dream.  I love this quote, and would put it on every other card I made, if it would make any sense to do that.  But since it doesn't, I definitely like to use it on occasions when it makes perfect sense.  As you can see, though, the sentiment needs a little more oomph to it.  That's where the reinker would come in handy.  I have a few days still to try and find it.  But if I don't, this will the be the card she gets (oomphless sentiment and all).  
Stamps: SU Summer by the Sea, Heidi Grace
Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate, Ranger Coffee, Copics, Prismacolors, Colorbox Royal Blue and Cocoa
CS: PTI White
Accessories: PTI Dark Chocolate Satin Ribbon

2 weeks' notice

With all the crazy weather we've been having this year, it has hardly felt like spring, and now it's almost summer. We have 2 weeks of school left for my kindergartener, 3 for my 3rd grader, and I'm excited!  We had a baseball game last night that I had to wear a winter coat, hat, and gloves to.  It was SO cold.  This tree in our neighbor's field blew down a few weeks ago when we had a crazy wind storm. 

And now for a card.  I love it when I'm looking out in blogland and see a card or two that sparks my creativity.  Or when I see a card that is so awesome, I just want to hurry and case it.  I saw this fabulous card on Susan's Simplicity blog back before Easter, and I loved it.  It's been in my head ever since then.  Then I saw this card on a different Susan's blog (Mad Sky Designs).  Well, I decided to use the layout from the first card and the colors on the second, and this is what I came up with:

A super quick and easy card, with colors that I just love.  Enjoy your Friday!

Stamps: PTI Communique Curves Sentiments
Ink: PTI True Black
CS: PTI Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise, White, SU Rose Red
Accessories: Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly Punch, Rhinestones

That's what I get

I guess I shouldn't have joked around last week about my "weekly post."  Because it happened again!  And yes, I was supposed to be back later in the week with a real paper project.  But ballet and hives interfered with my scheduling.  I do have a baby card to share, though, that involves paper and stamping!  So I can leave my blog name as it is!  LOL!

I used the Fall-to Layout #86 from the Clean and Simple Stamping Blog.  I needed a baby card to take to a new mom at church, who had her baby a month early.  I loved the layout, and decided it was perfect for a baby card.  I got a little impatient cutting out all the circles, and ended up using buttons for the smaller circles.  That's all for today; no promises this time on when I'll be back.  I've been working on several sketches from the Inspired Crafters blog, so I'm hoping to finish them up and have more to share.  Enjoy your week (in case I don't make it back...lol!)

Stamps: PTI Signature Greetings, TAC Hello Baby
Ink: PTI True Black, Copics, Prismacolors
CS: PTI Kraft, Spring Rain, Ripe Avocado, Lemon Tart, White
Accessories: Circle Nesties, PTI Buttons

Inspired and Intimidated

Well, I'm here with my weekly post!  lol!  I don't know how the weeks keep getting away from me.  Today I have a scrapbook page to share using a sketch posted on Inspired Crafters.  So, the reason my post is titled  inspired and intimidated....well, you all left such sweet comments on my last scrapbook page.  And I loved reading all of them.  But then I finish a page like this where I feel like something's not quite right, and I get intimidated to post.  Silly, I know.  But that's just me.  But I have been working on this page since my daughter's kindergarten program last week, and just decided it was time to call it finished!

 
Enjoy your Monday!  My kiddos have started the official countdown until school's out.  And don't worry, I will be back later in the week with some real paper projects.  It's Teacher Appreciation week, and I can't just make them a digital scrapbook page.  Although it's tempting!

Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals

Breadsticks

Today I've got a recipe for breadsticks for you. Just a basic simple recipe. I use these for breadsticks, cinnamon sticks, or for pizza crust. Now, I've had the same oven for 6 years. And in my oven these cook perfectly at 450. Several of my friends who have used my recipe say that they get too hard or burn at 450 cooking them the time recommended. All I can say, is they work in my oven.

Celebrating 6

My goal this week, now that the kids are back in school, is to get at least 2 scrapbook pages done. And their laundry. LOL! You can see where my priorities are! I got this page done a while back, and realized I hadn't posted it. One thing about my scrapbooks, is that even if I scrap out of order (which I obviously do), I like the finished layouts to go in albums in chronological order. I spend so much time consumed with it, that I want to rearrange everything and put every page is its proper place. Which I'm trying to let go of. I have so many quirky things about scrapping that can keep me from getting done what I want to. So I'm just trying to scrap away and enjoy the process. And quit worrying about what page should go where. The stories are being told and that's what I really care about. Is there anything that is a road block for you when it comes to scrapping? I love to know what others think. Now, I'm off to do a load of laundry so I can sit down later and scrap. I've fallen behind on the Inspired Crafters challenges, and there are some great ones I am itching to get going on.

All supplies: Designer Digitals

Heavenly Oatmeal Cookies

Well, we are on spring break here. And Monday and Tuesday brought snow. Monday it was such wet snow, the power was out for a few hours. My husband and I had been watching one of our shows, the kiddos were in bed, and it was pitch black. I didn't sleep very well. I'll just admit I'm afraid of the dark! Today it's finally sunny, but not warm. It's been a strange spring break for sure! I have a recipe card today to share. I love these cookies!


The original recipe called for raisins instead of chocolate chips. Every once in a while I make these with raisins, but usually I go for the chocolate! Enjoy your Wednesday. We're off to play with cousins and then I'm hoping for some craft time later today.

Happy Easter

I am so excited for Spring and for Easter. Yesterday we woke up to several inches of snow, and it kind of put a damper on my excitement about spring. But today, it is sunny again, and I am hopeful! Today I am sharing the little treats I made for my kiddos' teachers and bus drivers. Laurie had two different Easter projects that I loved, and kind of incorporated both of them. The first she used her glassine bags, and just embossed them to give them a little something extra. I've seen her do this before, and I always mean to remember to try it, but until now never got around to doing it. The second she added cute little eggs to make some fun packaging.

So, for my project I used my new egg die from PTI, and embossed my glassine bags. Overall, a quick and easy project. Other than getting the paper out of the egg die! LOL! I've had coversations with people, and read on forums about how hard it was to get the paper out of the die. Well, my first 12 or 13, they popped right out. I was starting to think all the people must be doing something wrong! Then, I hit a brick wall, and the paper stopped coming out of the die. I still love that cute little egg shape, and it's a fantastic way to use up scraps. But, a bit frustrating at the same time. Enjoy your day!

Top Notch Template

It is storming like crazy here this morning, and I'm hoping the power doesn't go out before this post is up and running. I have a project I'm really excited to show today. When Leigh Ann first emailed the new template to me, I was in the midst of the creative blahs and hadn't a clue what I was going to do with it! But yesterday, when I got home from mailing out my swaps, I started cleaning off my desk. I don't know how it got messy when I hadn't created a thing for weeks, but it was. And as I was putting things back where they belong I found a stamp set I got ages ago, and the light went on and I knew what I'd be making with this template! I'm so excited to show you!


I love that little girl splashing in the puddle. I think it's such a fun image for spring! And the template, called Top Notch, is another one that stays shut all by itself. But I had to add a little ribbon for fun! I love satin ribbon, and I've heard people say about it not holding its shape very well. I never believed them, until I tied a bow with the saddlestitch ribbon, and now I know what they are talking about! But, satin it is for this project, since that's what I have in Spring Moss. And why did I add the ribbon, besides for fun?

Wait for it! Wait for it!

To add the cute little sentiment, "You're my rainy day friend." I am hoping my daughter will want this for one of her sweet little friends whose birthday is coming up in April. Sometimes she doesn't want one of my creations, so if she doesn't, it can stay on my desk, or I'll give it to one of my rainy day friends ;)

If you want to see some gorgeous eye candy, check out what the rest of the Perfect Presentation team came up with using this template. I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

Leigh Ann
Chris
Alyssa
Harriet
Kerri

Top Notch Template ( you can follow this link to the pdf, svg or gsd files!)
Stamps: Paper Pretties
Ink: Ranger Coffee, copics, prismacolors
CS: PTI White, Berry Sorbet
DP: PTI Polka Dot Parade
Accessories: Spring Moss Satin Ribbon, Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio

Swapping Time

This is the card I made for a swap on SCS. I've done PTI swaps with this group of gals, and it's so much fun. Well, this time, in addition to the regular PTI swap, I joined a "Man Cards swap" that Jen was hostessing. Both of these swaps are due in the next 2 weeks, so this was not a great time for my creativity to go MIA. I finally was able to pull together a layout and design that I love, and hope the other "Man Cards" swappers will as well. I'm off to the post office to get these in the mail, then home to spend some computer time catching up on what I've missed this last week. Hope your Monday is shaping up to be a good one!


Stamps: SU Loads of Love
Ink: Ranger Coffee, Copics, Prismacolors
CS: PTI Lemon Tart, Spring Rain, White
Accessories: PTI New Leaf Twill Ribbon, SU Scallop Trim Punch

A tutorial

Good morning! Well, my kiddos have missed the whole week of school, and even with Mucinex, humidifiers, and tons of fluid in them, they still have those awful congested coughs. But, on a happy note, I have an awesome tutorial I want to share with you.

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.

I found this link the other day through another blog I was visiting, and I was thrilled. I've been at this a while now, and still learned some new things from the clip. To see more of her videos, just clink on her name above and it will take you to more. I hope you enjoy the tutorial, and enjoy your Saturday!

Child of God

Today, I'm sharing a card that I did make while I was in my non-creative funk over the last little while. I am pretty happy with how this turned out, but it look me all day to make. Literally all day. I started in the morning and wasn't done until 5:45 when we were taking dinner to a lady from church who just had a baby, and I needed this card done by then. When I worked on this one little card for almost 8 hours, I just decided my creativity was on vacation and I'd have to wait for it to come back.


I loved when this set was released from Papertrey Ink. I waited forever to get it, but I'm so glad I finally did. It's so wonderful. I really wanted to use some soft colors on this, and I'm happy with the overall look. I decided I need to get more saddle-stitch ribbon; I love how it holds it shape for bows!

Well, I'm off for now. I have to finish my game of Phase 10 with my son, so I can make him take a nap!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI Heavenly Medley, Background Basics: Text Style
Ink: PTI Smokey Shadow, Spring Rain, Copics: Y11, BG11, V12, B21, Versamark
CS: PTI Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart, Plum Pudding, Spring Moss, Spring Rain, White
Accessories: PTI Spring Rain Saddle-stitch Ribbon

Chasing the blah away

Well, I've just felt blah the last week. I haven't felt creative at all, I haven't felt like reading, I haven't worked on a single scrapbook page; I've just felt blah! Last night I decided it was time to make a card no matter what. And still I couldn't get any creativity flowing. So I just started looking at old cards I've favorited from other people's blogs. So be prepared to see one of your cards "remixed" and appearing on my blog in the next little while. Up first is a yellow butterfly creation.


My inspiration for this came from Michelle's post here. I loved the stitching she added at the top, and the border punch on the bottom. But you all know by now, I don't sew! And I couldn't add any brown to the bottom of mine without it suddenly turning dark and dreary. So I "made it my own!"

What do you all do when the creativity isn't happening? Any tips would be appreciated!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI Signature Greetings
Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate
CS: PTI Kraft, Lemon Tart, Vintage Cream, Clear sheet from PTI Stamps
Accessories: Perfectly Paisley Embossing Folder, Spots and Dots Embossing Folder, SU Bigz Beautiful Butterflies, PTI Vintage Cream Satin Ribbon, PTI Dark Chocolate Button

Chicken Chow Mein

Well, I promise to be back someday with a card or a scrapbook page. I'm just on a roll getting my recipe cards done, and haven't been able to take a break from it! Today's recipe to share is Chicken Chow Mein.



My husband loves this recipe, it's one of his favorites. I started by using this Chow Mein Recipe from Recipezaar. Some of the ingredients that recipe called for, I didn't buy since I didn't know if I'd like it and ever want to make it again, so I made do with substitutions that I thought would work. The recipe card is my version of the original, with some tweaking. Also, the first time that I tried it, I did have the fresh Chinese noodles originally called for in the recipe. And they were good. But my husband liked it so much he wanted me to make it again right away. Well, we hadn't been to the store, and I'd used all the noodles on the first batch. We ended up just using thin spaghetti noodles instead, and that's what we usually use now.

Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals

Cream Soup Mix

Well, I was hoping for a super productive scrapping afternoon yesterday. But that didn't really happen. So instead I have another quick recipe card to share. I make lots of casseroles, and so many of them call for cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup. I used to stock up on these cream soups when there were good sales. Then I found this recipe one day while browsing on Recipezaar (my favorite online recipe sight). It's condensed cream of _____ soup mix. And I love it! I mix up a batch and keep it in a rubbermaid bowl, and use it often. It doesn't get as thick as the canned stuff, but the flavor is phenomenal. And there isn't all the added fat or chemicals from the canned stuff. So this or the homemade mushroom soup are my preferred soups now.



Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy

That is the first "real song" (if you can call it that) my husband ever heard my son singing. We were grocery shopping, and my little boy was singing "fruit salad, yummy, yummy!" My husband, not being the stay-at-home-Wiggle-watching parent like me, was wondering what the heck he was singing. Anyway, that was a long time ago! But it really does relate to my post today!


Here is one of my all-time favorite fruit salad recipes. It's my grandma's and it is oh, so good! She used to make it a lot. I think it's funny how food can bring back so many memories! I wrote the recipe exactly as I have it copied from my mom, but I often make changes. I left it the same, so no one in my family can complain that it's not really grandma's recipe ;)
First off, I just don't like the canned fruit cocktail. The grapes in there are really gross to me, so I skip that ingredient, and add some better fruit instead. Also, I don't often have buttermilk. To remedy this, you can add one Tablespoon of lemon juice to a cup of milk, and have a similar taste. Or, if I don't do that, I just use regular milk and French Vanilla pudding. My husband is not a huge coconut fan, so I very rarely add that. It doesn't need the coconut at all. If you leave it out, it's still delicious! And, my last tip, is my most important one. Use Dole pineapple! I will buy generic or store brands of many things, but pineapple is not one of them. Dole pineapple is 20 times better than any other I've ever had. Worth every extra penny! Enjoy your Friday, I'm off to make some Chicken Chow Mein for dinner. Yep, starting early so I'll be done and can scrap the day away.

Take out, anyone?

I am in heaven. I love it when I have a reason to get so excited about paper. Today I have a couple of boxes to show you making one of the newest Perfect Presentation templates: Gift To Go. When I saw this template, I was so excited. Months ago, before joining the Perfect Presentation team, I tried (miserably) to duplicate a take-out box after my husband brought home Chinese food. The great thing about this template, is that it gives the fun look of a take-out box, without a zillion score lines and complicated folds. And, it only takes 2 sheets of cardstock!


First off, I wanted to cut out some flowers to add some cheer to a little Gift To Go box I'm going to give a friend for her birthday. I wanted something cheerful and colorful. These flowers fit the bill for me perfectly.


And next, I had to combine 2 of my favorite sets. PTI's Background Basics: Text Style with Stampin Up's Artfully Asian.


I also included a picture to show the roominess inside the box. There is also a snack size Snickers in there (that you can't see), as well as several Werther's originals. And a little stuffing in the bottom. So, you can leave out the stuffing, too, to pack more yummy goodness inside. I was thinking of all the possibilities for little girls, too. I know my daughter has a friend with a birthday coming up, and I was thinking of fingernail polish and some lip gloss tucked inside, in addition to chocolate!


There is a second template being released today, but I got so excited about making this one, that I don't have a project to share with you using the second one. Some of the other design team ladies do, though, so be sure to check out their blogs.

Leigh Ann Baird
Alyssa Scritchfield
Harriet Hensley
Kerri Michaud
Chris Olsen

That's all for now. I'm scrambling to be on time to church, now! LOL! Have a great Sunday!

Perfect Presentation Template: Gift To Go
CS: PTI Rustic White, White, Summer Sunrise, Plum Pudding, Spring Moss
Stamps: PTI Background Basics: Text Style, Friends 'Til The End, SU Artfully Asian
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Antique Linen, PTI Dark Chocolate, Hibiscus Burst, Copics, Versamark
Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Glitter Glue, Dark Chocolate Buttons

Inspired Crafters Sketch #7

Today I have a layout that I'm really excited about. It uses a sketch that was posted on the Inspired Crafters blog. I am having so much fun being back in the rhythm of scrapbooking. These pictures are back from when my daughter was just a little baby. I loved the pictures at the time, and always thought they would make for a really fun scrapbook page. As soon as I saw the layout on Inspired Crafters, I knew it would be perfect for scrapping these pictures. In addition to the sketch, Banu challenged us to use ribbon on our layout as well. I used a yarn swirl instead, but I'm counting that!


Thanks for looking, and have a sunny Saturday! We've got a full day of activities ahead of us, and I'm excited to get out of the house.

Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals

Chicken Enchiladas

Now that I'm current with my kids' mini-albums, I've decided to tackle another big project: getting my recipe cards worked on. I've been doing a 6x6 format, and that was working okay. I can place them in little albums, and it's worked out pretty well. But I like to pull my recipes out and stick them on the fridge while I'm cooking. I just like to see the recipe right there. But I don't like taking the page protector out. I just want the one recipe I'm working on right there. When my parents were here, my dad bought me a laminator
(thanks, Dad!). He said he knew I'd find a use for it! And then it hit me, that I could laminate my recipes, and pull each individual one out when I'm cooking them, stick them on the fridge, and not worry about milk splashing on them, or buttery fingers touching them. I am planning on doing them in a 5x7 format now, but still doing the 6x6 ones, too. That way I can still stash them in the 6x6 album if I feel like it. So, today I'm sharing my Chicken Enchilada recipe. Yes, I've shared this recipe before, from a recipe swap I was in. But I had a friend request it, and so I made a new recipe card I could share with her. Also, I'm posting both the sizes, because I don't know if anyone ever actually prints these out, or not. I know I've saved lot of recipes I found on other blogs, but I don't usually reprint them. But if someone wants to, then they could have their choice of sizes to use!



All Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals

Mini Albums

So, in spite of the germies my kiddos had last week, I finally got their mini-albums done for them. A few years ago, when my son was going to kindergarten, I decided to do these mini-albums for my kids. I kept them super duper simple. One or two pictures a page, with some journaling from me to them, and that was it. At the time I came up with the idea, I hadn't been doing any real scrapbooking for a long time. Pretty much since my son was born. And it was overwhelming to think about catching up on 6 years worth of pictures. So that's when I decided on the format for these books. The best part is that the kids absolutely love them. I find them reading their little books all the time.


Well, fast forward to now, and the original mini-albums are the only ones I did for them. Once again I felt overwhelmed, because I missed a few years. I decided to start the process again. This time instead of doing them as a calendar year (January to December), I'm doing the school year (August to July). Now that I am current, I may try to go back and catch up, but we'll see how that goes. I just thought I'd show you the format in case anyone is interested.



I am doing them digitally (I'm sure that is not a surprise!). It is so great, because I got the format all set up and saved. Then when I pick out a picture, I just slide the picture in, change the date and my journaling, and I'm done. I'm so excited to be current for this year. The kids love their little books, and I love knowing that when their time at my house is done, they can just grab these little books to take with them, and hopefully have some great memories.

ETA: The page sizes are 6" x 6". Most places that print digital prints will print in this size, or you could of course print them at home. I had mine sent out to a printer.

Don't plan on it

Well, have you ever had one of those weeks that just didn't go as planned? That was my week this week. My parents were coming to visit, and I asked my mom how her card stash was. She told me it was pretty depleted, so I figured I would just make cards all week to build her stash back up. Well, I've gotten 2 cards made. Not quite the stash I was hoping to build up for her.

Anyway. I finally got my kids' teachers presents made. That's the good news. The bad news is that they are both sick and missing their parties today. My daughter yesterday got an ear infection that had her in amazing amounts of pain. We took her to the doctor and got started on the antibiotics last night, so I figured if she wasn't in pain she could go today. But then my son in the middle of the night had his eyes sealed shut from pink eye. And when my daughter woke up, her eyes weren't sealed shut, but they were oozing, too. So that meant a trip to the doctor this morning for my son. And no school parties!

Here are the boxes the teachers will get after the long weekend:


I used the "Squared" Perfect Presentation template for these boxes. This particular size just takes one sheet of cardstock, and they go together really quickly. I originally planned to do some layers and cut out hearts, but then I went a totally different route. I decided to emboss polka dots and wrap with the ribbon to make them look like little presents! I did my son's in red and my daughter's in pink. I loved the end look. So fun! And easy. And that's what I needed this week! And I have a little tip for you on the Perfect Presentation templates. Many of the templates are also available now in the SVG format. So, if you have a cricut with the SCAL software, you can buy the SVG format, and the cricut will do all the cutting for you.

I'm off to tend to little sick kiddos, and then later today, be back to check on all your blogs that I've missed out on this past week.

Perfect Presentation Template: Squared
Stamps: Unity Distressed Dots
Ink: Versamark
CS: PTI Pure Poppy
Accessories: White Embossing Powder

Painting by Numbers

I have been super busy over the last few days, trying to get ready to take advantage of some sales. I have a lot of scrapbook pages ready to be printed and was going back over them checking for typos before I send them to be printed. Which meant no card-making time! But I sent a bundle of pages off tonight, and so that meant as soon as I saw the latest PTI challenge posted, I could play along. Papertrey will be releasing acrylic paint soon (which would have come in very handy for me back before I switched to digital for my scrapbooking). So the challenge is a "paint by number" challenge. You have to pick a color palette depending on what your screen name is on their forum (mine is rj77, so fun and exciting!). So here is my color palette:
And here is the card I made, which also follows the sketch:


I love the flowers from the Life set, and the minute I saw the sketch and the colors, I knew I had to use them. After I got them stamped and the paper glued down, I noticed that I could have added another little bundle of the flowers down in the right hand corner. But I wasn't going to risk messing the whole card up to add that little detail. If I make another one, I'll stamp some more flowers there in the corner.

Well, now I have stayed up way too late, and will certainly pay for it tomorrow. But it was fun to be stamping again after a bit of a break.

And I get that the ribbon is covering the flowers. Sometimes that would totally drive me insane. But I just liked the way it looked this time, and went with the flow. Kind of more like I was covering patterned paper than a stamped image!

Stamps: Life, Signature Greetings
Ink: Scarlet Jewel, Smokey Shadow
CS: Kraft, Sweet Blush, Smokey Shadow, Vintage Cream
Accessories: Vintage Cream Twill, SU Scallop Trim Punch

Champs

I'm back! I don't know where the weeks are going to. I am back today with a scrapbook page that is for the Inspired Crafters sketch challenge from the 23rd of January. You can find the sketch here.


And there is my layout. I haven't done a 2-page layout in a long time, and it was tricky for me to do. I guess I'm a little rusty. The layout overall is somehow off to me. I don't know if it's just so busy and I've been leaving more white space. Maybe that's what's throwing me. But my son liked it, and since it's about his event, I guess we're good. I was having some computer issues (yes, again) that had me off the net more than usual, so I'll be looking forward to catching up on other blogs, too.

All Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals

Saturday Sketch

Good morning! Today is my first day hosting a challenge over at Inspired Crafters. It's a sketch challenge, and I hope that you might want to play along with us. I've had fun doing the weekly scrapbook challenges, and working more on my scrapbooks. Here is the layout I did for this week's challenge:


I've had several people ask me questions about digital scrapbooking, and I decided to type a little more info today on what I find so appealing about doing my scrapping digitally. I am a crafter who always wants to change things. I can't just get something on paper and be happy with it. I always wish I could move it a little to the left. Or that the picture was a little bit bigger. So, in that regard, digital is perfect for me. I can rearrange elements to my heart's content. Add in, take away, change color. All those things can be done rather effortlessly, and without messing up the whole rest of the layout. Even if it's been a few days, and I go back and see something I'm not loving about a layout, I can change it! Another aspect I LOVE, is that you get so much use out of your supplies. For example, on the layout I'll have posted tomorrow, I used some black chipboard letters. Well, I can use those letters over and over and over without worrying about using all of the i's, e's, and a's, and having a bunch of x's and g's left. Those are my two main reasons. I also have had a few questions about printing my layouts. I do either 8 1/2 x 11 layouts or 12x12. The 8 1/2 x 11 I print at home. This is the size I use for my "picture of the day" layouts. I take a picture each day, and make a weekly layout. I like this size because I can print at home, and have the layout printed each week. Reminding me how fun it is to see a week in pictures. For the larger 12x12, I send them to get printed. I use a sight called Scrapping Simply. Their prices are reasonable, they had super quick service, and the prints looked fantastic. I was very happy with them. I have read about a new place that is opening in February, Persnickety Prints, and once I try them, I will give a review on them as well.

If you are thinking digital might be something you want to try, I'd definitely say go for it. I am so glad I started scrapping this way, and don't care if I never do another paper layout. I'll save my cardstock for cards and 3-D projects! A site I love for their supplies as well as tips, is Designer Digitals. They have fantastic sales on Thursdays, where around 250 of their products are 30% off. On Sunday they have two new products for $.25. I mean, you really can't beat that for value! If you are interested in digital scrapbooking at all, I hope you found some of this information helpful. If I left something out you would like to know, please leave me a comment, and I'd be happy to answer the best that I can.

Happy Friday

We made it to Friday! woo-hoo! Today is the 100th day of school. It's payday. We're almost done with January. And I've got a project to share using a newly released Perfect Presentation template: Cute Carton. I'd say the day is starting off in a good way!


I laugh everytime I use Kraft now. I always wondered why people were so in love with this cardboard looking paper. And I find myself reaching for it all the time now. I needed to whip up a little something for a thank you to take to someone who's been helping me out with a big PTA project. This fit the bill perfectly. It went together quickly, was very easy to decorate, and holds a nice amount of Hershey nuggets. It could fit cookies, too, but I wasn't doing any baking that day. All paper crafting!

If you'd like to see the rest of the templates that are released today, here is a list of inspiration that can't be beat!

Harriet Hensley is showing "It's a Keeper."
Chris Olsen has another view of "Cute Carton."
Alyssa Scritchfield is showing "Squared" can be fun (no math involved!).
Kerri Michaud is showing off "Hey Cupcake."
Leigh Ann Baird will be showing something using all four!!!

If that doesn't get you going on a Friday morning, I don't know what will! Enjoy your Friday everyone.

Stamps: PTI Background Basics: Text Style, Turning a New Leaf
Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado
CS: PTI Kraft, Ripe Avocado, Rustic White
Accessories: Sizzix Bigz Beautiful Butterflies, PTI Dark Chocolate Buttons, PTI Cream Ribbon
Perfect Presentation Template: Cute Carton

Double Duty

Oh, it's a late post today. I thought I'd be all ready to post these projects before going to help at the school today. But I was just moving tooooo slow this morning. Today I have a card and scrapbook page to share, using the same sketch! These both were inspired by last week's sketch at Inspired Crafters. The sketch can be found here.

First up, is my card.


I was browsing online galleries the other day, and saw a card using a similar color palette with this floral stamp. I cut out a shape with my Nesties, and it fit just how I hoped it would. I had a purple square to add on there instead of a second pink square, but it disappeared from my desk. And I didn't feel like cutting another one. So I didn't!

Then I used the inspiration from the sketch to make a scrapbook page as well.


This is another picture from the old metal lunchbox. It is me with my two older brothers on some Christmas long ago. It's the same year for all of us. My mom would always have us take a picture under the tree with all of our stuff. It is kind of a fun memory, and I'm glad I found a picture of each of us from the same year.

Card
Stamps: PTI Background Basics: Text Style, SU Happy Harmony
Ink: PTI Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise, Plum Pudding, Ripe Avocado, Versamark
CS: PTI White, Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise, Ripe Avacado

Scrapbook Page
Designer Digitals Products

Blog Hopping with PTI: The Total Package

Well, it's Blog Hop time at Papertrey Ink. The challenge this month was to create a card with the "total package." Meaning, don't neglect the inside of the card or the envelope (like I always do). So, once again, while this probably isn't too much of a challenge for some people, I was definitely working outside of my comfort zone.

I knew I wanted to make something cheery. I know it's not even February yet, but I'm ready for spring and flowers and cheery colors to flood the scene! So I tried to get some of that onto my card (and envelope) today.







That's all for me today. If you're on the hop, I can't wait to see what you've done as well. If you're just here visiting, hope your day is cheery!

Stamps: PTI Friends 'Til The End
Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate, Versamark
CS: PTI Dark Chocolate, Hibiscus Burst, Plum Pudding, Spring Moss, Summer Sunrise, White
Accessories: Filigree White Embossing Powder, SU Scallop Trim Punch, PTI Dark Chocolate Buttons

Magazine Inspiration

This week's Saturday Scrapbook challenge at Inspired Crafters is to find inspiration in a magazine advertisement. Well, while my computer was down for repairs, I found a stack of old scrapbooking magazines that had been missing. I ran across this ad here, and got inspired to make a page with lots of squares:



And here is my layout:



Digital Supplies: Designer Digitals